Eihwar – Hugheim
Eihwar – Hugrheim
Season Of Mist
13.03.2026
Review by Oli Gonzalez
8/10
“Not another Pagan rock band”
That’s what you may be thinking when you come across Eihwar. A band leaning into the Pagan aesthetic of traditional folk percussion and string instruments, as well as throat singing/chanting in a seldom spoken tongue in the modern world. All of this with contemporary production values. Let’s face it, the genre is fairly saturated now. With the likes of Heilung and Wardruna being at the forefront of this whilst bands such as Faun, Eivor and Nytt Land ensure that there’s plenty of competition. As such, Eihwar have their work cut out to be different. Spawning not from the Nordic nations but rather from France, their twist on this sub-genre (a sub-sub-genre?) in which they entitle ‘Viking War Trance’ is rather intriguing on the surface, with the band describing it as ‘Nordic folk instrumentation’, with ‘war drums, trance vocals and myth-driven storytelling’. How will of this transpire on record?
Well, this is one really were overly complicated analysis can step to one side and we can just get into our feelings about it. Honestly, this is just a fun album to listen to. 40 minutes flew by faster than 40 minutes should. Each song ebb and flowed wonderfully into one another with the pacing being exceptional! No passage felt too long nor too short, hinting at a wonderful understanding of human psychology. Some are faster and more upbeat, like ‘Omenotharena’ and ‘Freyja’s Calling’. Some prefer the more ambient and calmer route, like ‘Skuggariki’ or ‘Beserker’. The constant shifting in dynamics will always keep you on your toes and immersed in the flow of things. Though there are some ever presents. For instance, the vocal styles.
Operating as a duo, the contrasting vocal styles of Asrunn and Mark compliment one another well. Mark operating in a deeper more guttural level, whereas Asrunn operates in the higher register and has that ethereal quality injected straight from the spirits of the ancient Pagan lands! ‘The Lake Of The Dead’ is perhaps the best example of this, in a much more stripped back effort where the vocals really are the melodic focal point with no other distractions.
Another ever present; that authenticity! Whether it’s lyres, war drums, there’s a somewhat minimalistic but powerful voice spoken by each that’s dripping in those Pagan melodies that take your mind’s eye to the Fjords or vast breathtaking landscapes of the Nordic lands. No doubt they’ll get your feet tapping as you’re listening at home though.
As for the storytelling, it feels like some of this is lost without the necessary visual component however. Which is a shame, but more of a reason to go check them out live and in person. Listen to the album and ask yourself if they are just another Pagan rock band, or a group with a clear message and wonderful distinct flavour about them.
TRACK LISTING
01. Naudiz
02. Freyja’s Calling
03. Ein
04. Skuggariki
05. Hugrheim
06. Ljosgardr
07. Hell Odinn
08. The Lake of The Dead
09. Omenotharena
10. Beserkr
LINKS
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Oli Gonzalez and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
